Angels sign left-hander Wade LeBlanc to minor-league contract

Mike DiGiovanna

The Angels signed Wade LeBlanc, a veteran left-hander who was released by baseball’s two worst teams -- Miami and Houston -- last season, to a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training.

LeBlanc has a 20-32 career record and 4.51 earned run average in 96 games over six big-league seasons and had his best year in 2010, going 8-12 with a 4.25 ERA, 110 strikeouts and 51 walks in 26 games for the San Diego Padres.

He was released by the Marlins after going 1-5 with a 5.18 ERA in 13 games in 2013, and picked up by the Astros, who used him only four times in relief. LeBlanc pitched in 19 games for triple-A Oklahoma City, going 3-1 with a 4.71 ERA.

LeBlanc is not expected to contend for a rotation spot in 2014 but, along with recently signed right-hander Chris Volstad, should provide pitching depth and possibly give the Angels the flexibility to cut ties with right-handers Tommy Hanson and Jerome Williams, who could each earn $4 million in arbitration.